Tan Cheng Bock: Vote wisely and carefully, a lot at stake

Former presidential candidate and PAP backbencher Tan Cheng Bock (second from right) was at the SDP rally on September 3.

PHOTO: Facebook

Ex-presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock has called on Singaporeans to "vote wisely and carefully" as a lot is at stake for future generations.

Writing on his Facebook page yesterday, the former People's Action Party backbencher said: "We should make an effort to listen to all parties and attend their rallies - closely examining their policies and their records. We are looking for candidates who will speak up for us in Parliament."

Calling this general election a "watershed election in every sense" in an earlier post, he said: "It will also be the first GE without the influential presence of Lee Kuan Yew. Plenty is at stake, not only for the candidates and political parties, but also for Singapore and Singaporeans."

He also appealed to all parties to conduct a clean and fair campaign without resorting to gutter politics.

"Singaporeans today are well-informed and able to tell the truth from the froth. They want to see a dignified campaign by well-meaning and credible candidates," he said in a post on Nomination Day.

Dr Tan said in his yesterday's post that he is a resident of Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, which is being contested by "two formidable teams".

Although he has "friends on both teams", he said he has to consider the bigger national issues when deciding who to vote for.

The incumbent team of the PAP won the last contest with 60.1 per cent of the votes. The SDP is fielding a new team with Dr Chee Soon Juan, Professor Paul Tambyah, Sidek Mallek and Chong Wei Fung.

He revealed that the SDP team did a walkabout around his estate and went to his house.

"They shared their vision for Singapore and asked for my vote. I listened carefully to what they had to say and will continue to think it through over the next week," he wrote.

Last night, he attended the SDP rally at Chua Chu Kang Stadium where he shook hands with some SDP candidates.

"At the rally many Singaporeans were happy to see me and many took photos with me," he said.

Dr Tan said he is also looking forward to meeting the candidates from the PAP - Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Christopher de Souza, Liang Eng Hwa and Sim Ann - will be attending their rally this evening .

In his September 1 post, he made it clear that he would stick to his non-partisan stand. During his weekend walkabouts to meet Singaporeans, he had met some political parties whose members had asked for his support.

He told them that he is non-partisan and would not endorse any particular party.

"They understood my stand and gladly accepted my best wishes for a good and clean fight," he said.